The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-09-03

the first dawn of reason train him m
in the same ignorance, atheism and
barbarity with themselves. He has
no chance, so to speak, he has no posi-
bility of any better education. What
trial has he then ? From the time he
comes into the world till he goes out of
it again he seems to be under a dire
necessity of living in all ungodliness
and unrighteousness. But how is
this How can this be the case with
so many millions of souls which God
has made? Art thou not the God of
all the ends of the earth and of them
that dwell in the broad sea ?"
In view of the above appalling fact if
the life, given here under circumstances
that make it impossible for a great ma
jority to be Christian-if there is no
dispensation of grace and mercy in the
spirit world in which they may achieve
the development and religious growth
prevented here, did not God create them
in vain =? Could God Of love allow
them to drift into eternal woe because
they were born into life amid such ad-
verse surroundings
Again says Wesley, "While the poison
of sin is spread over the whole world,
the antidote, the gospel, is not known
in the sixth part of the earth.n He saws.
furthermore, "that the gospel remedy is
so grievously adulterated not only in
Catholic, but in Protestant lands, that
in many instances it adds ten. fold ma
lightly to the disease it was designed to
cure"
V.
With these facts before US, it is evil
dent that the vast majority of the world,
not only then, but to-day, are without
the gospel, and are so situated that it is
not possible for them to have it during
the present life. Who is to blame for
it? And yet the Unitarian theology
says they must be lost forever, for none
but Christians can be saved. Who, then,
can be saved =? Wesley says: "There is
little more mercy and truth to be found
among Christians than pagans. Nay,
it has been affirmed, and 1 am afraid
truly, that many so-called Christians
are far worse than the heather" Page rs.
''Such is the present state of mankind
in all parts of the world" He asks,
'How is it possible to reconcile this
with the wisdom or goodness of God ?"
1t never can be done on the hypothesis
that this life is state of probation
that beyond the present there are no
opportunities for mercy nor improve
ment. What dark and doleful pic
ture. How little it looks like the work
of the All-wise and ALLOWING God the
Father. The great soul of Wesley
rises above the limitations of partial
ism and asks, "And what can give ease
to thoughtful mind under so melan-
choly prospect" Can we find that
relief in the probation doctrine that
declares that the destiny Of all the bill
lions of humanity SO situated is fixed
forever, and that they are eternally lost?
Nay, Wesley himself sought light in a
higher, broader and more Christian
spirit of Interpretation of God.
He said: what but the considera-
ton that things will not always be so;
that another scene will soon be opened
He will judge the prince of this world
and spoil him of his usurped dominion.
"God will be jealous of his honor he
will arise and maintain his cause he
will give his Son the heather for his in
herltance and the uttermost parts of
the earth for his possession" "The
earth shall be filled with the knowledge
of the Lord as the waters cover the sea-"
1.-The loving knowledge of God produc-
ing uniform, uninterrupted holiness
and happiness shall cover the earth.
Shall fill every soul of man. Impossi-
BILE, will some men say, yea, the great
est impossibilities that we should see
Christian world.
Nov, in the same manner as God
has converted so many TO himself with
out destroying their liberty, he can, I'M
doubtedly, convert whole nations or the
whole world. And it is as easy for him
to convert a world as one individual
SOUL" See page II.
vi.
Christ will terminate evil and sin by
the conversion and salvation of the
world. Again says Wesley, "And so
all Israel shall be saved" For blind
ness in part has happened to Israel, till
the fullness of the Gentiles be come in"
"Then the Redeemer that cometh out
of Zion shall turn away ungodliness
from Jacob" "God hath now concluded